It was a moment of joy for parents, coaches and organizers of the month long Swim for Life Gambia project to see that three-quarter of the kids were swimming from one end of the pool to another without any form of support.

Joyous and to some extent amazing because the kids spent on 28hours (14 days of two hours) with the coaches to have perfected swimming styles, breaststrokes and freestyle which they demonstrated on graduation day before an impressive crowd made up of parents, dignitaries and onlookers.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the executive director of the National Sports Council, Marcel Mendy who deputized for the youth and sports minister hailed the organizers of the ‘Swim for Life Gambia’ project, then urge the swimming association and other sports associations to take cue from this project.

“I am delightfully satisfied with what I have seen here today because we were made to understand that majority of these kids when they were coming here weren’t able to swim. But what they have demonstrated here shows that the ‘Catch Them Young’ is a possibility.”

Marcel however called on sports associations to spend more energy on developing talents at an early age noting that it is wrong to wait until our athletes reach maturity age.

“If we are serious about winning, we must invest in developing talents at an early age. If we are serious about winning gold, we must ensure our athletes have the skills and techniques at a tender age. We all have a responsibility to change the way we go about producing or developing talents if we are serious about winning.”

Marcel however used the occasion to call on the organizers to continue with this project saying that, “If you leave these kids from this stage, they might go back to where they were when they were coming into this project.

For his part the director of quality control and licensing at the Gambia Tourism Board, Mamodou Bah said his office is open for any form of partnership to see that this project continues to produce swimmer, life guards and a population that isn’t afraid of water.

He thanked the parents for entrusting the organizers of the swim for life project with their kids and encourage the organizers to come with more windows that will allow many more children to partake in this life saving venture.

The secretary general of the Gambia Press Union, Saikou Jammeh said he was mesmerized with the skills demonstrated by the children, something he said shows that when people and stakeholders cooperate, they can achieve a lot. He recalled the period when this idea was being conceived revealing that there we a lot of skepticism on the success of the project, “but what is demonstrated here has gone beyond my imagination,” he added.

The president of the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia and the president of the Red Dolphins Life Guard Association who are both members of the organizing committee called on stakeholders to come forward and support the organizers to have this project continue. They were all unanimous in their call for sponsors to come and partners with organizers. This according to the duo will not only help safe lives but will also nurture talents for the swimming association.

The children went home smiling and a certificate to indicate that they have completed the first phase of swimming that can help them safe themselves in case of eventualities.

Scorpions Coach Sang Ndong, will be without key players such as the Swansea City winger, Modou Barrow, Gent new acquisition, Omar Colley and China based star, Baboucarr Steve Trawally when his side take on Cameroon in the final match of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

This was made public in press release issued recently, announcing the final list of players to travel to Limbe to face Cameroon who have had their nose in front of Group M which comprises Mauritania and South Africa. The list comprises six foreign based players. The Gambia will be playing for pride when they take on the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Saturday, September 3, 2016 after sitting rock bottom of the group with two points.

Sang Ndong is traveling with an eighteen man squad; two goalkeepers, six defenders, seven midfielders and three strikers to complete what many see the poorest AFCON campaign.

The release however, does not explain the reason for Modou Barrow and Baboucarr Steve Trawally’s absence. The duo are having playing time in their clubs which prompted Coach Sang Ndong to invite them but he will have to resort to some local players he has been working with two weeks ago. Omar Colley, however, is on two yellow cards and isn’t qualified for this encounter. It would be recalled that Barrow missed Gambia’s tie against South Africa.

The team left Banjul for Casablanca, Morocco on Saturday night where they would team up with the contingent from Europe before flying to Douala where the team will drive 60km by bus en route to Limbe where they will face the four time African champion, Cameroon.

Ebrima Manneh and Choro Mbenga have been the closest Gambians to be licensed as FIFA Course Instructors. Today Manneh is conferred with the license to instruct local courses designed and run by FIFA on top of his CAF Instructors license.

Manneh has over the years walked the top and within his three year stint at the Gambia Football Federation he has undergone series of capacity building training for technical technical directors and this week, he was conferred the license instruct local FIFA courses.

Now that CAF is done with the male, next on the agenda should be the women who are high in the development agenda of FIFA. In The Gambia the only woman qualified for this course is Choro Mbenga who has been sidelined for courses since she decided to resign from her post as the women football coordinator.

However, if Choro is not available, the two most suitable candidates are Mariama Sowe and maybe Fatou O Njie. These two and Choro are the only women with a CAF B-License in The Gambia. These two were in charge of the women national team last November when the Glasgow Girls played the women scorpions in November 2015.

Choro Mbenga has over the years been trained to become a local instructor. She did the course twice, in Cameron and in South Africa. The one she attended in South Africa, she was with Mariama Sowe.

Choro also attended similar training in Tanzania and Ethiopia. In fact it appears when Choro was acquiring her CAF B-License, only a few male Gambian coaches had the license.

If the above mentioned names aren’t chosen for this highly demanding job, the other possibilities would be Jainaba Cham and Mamlisa Camara, GFF members and or Sainey Sisohore, the youngest women coordinator in the world.

it is without doubt that these three; Jainaba, Mamalisa and Sainey will require vigorous rudimentary coaching training before they could be qualified to undergo the instructor’s course should they be picked by the Gambia Football Federation and this will leave The Gambia to play catch-up game with their fellow African countries.

Euro 2016 has gone but leaves us with a lot of talking points especially here in The Gambia, a country that continues to build castles in the air when it comes to sports especially football.

Gambian football fans, coaches and administrators have over the years cited Senegal, Cape Verde, Mauritania and recently Guinea Bissau, Wales and Iceland, as nations that can inspire the scorpions to sparkle the light at senior level football. But, what is certain is that, hardly do they pay attention to the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation process put in place by these countries for the historic achievements they have attained.

Excuse me, but I cannot move on with this piece without hailing the national television, GRTS and Africell for giving Gambians an uninterrupted coverage coupled with great analysis from veteran and upcoming coaches and football pundits. Even though I was aghast to see that GRTS sports presenters, Baboucarr Senghore, Momodou S Jallow, Teneng Gitteh and the ever agile Famara Fofana step off for Musa Sise of Africell who I must admit did not falter any bit. Gosh! It was the first time I watched a championship with great satisfaction. Satisfied simply because the timing of the matches weren’t odd and the coverage wasn’t interrupted by anything, not even politics and the championship came at a time I was off university. So I had time to watch virtually all matches except for few when NAWEC chose to deny me electricity, something I frowned about for nothing because I wasn’t astonished that some days my side will be left blackout so I won’t be able to watch.

Enough of that now and to the reason why I set out to write this piece taking cue of how minors performed in the championship. Team spirit and commitment overruling names. These were things nations like The Gambia should take from the just ended European football championship held in France. I and many others were worried if the France championship can produce any memory both on and off the pitch knowing that the France was still mourning the November 15, stadium attack that took over a hundred lives away. Kudos to France for increasing and tightening security because there was no blast that leaves people injured talkless of dying.Apart from the security threats some critiques thought increasing the teams from 16 to 24 would massively affect the quality of the tournament but those skeptics were proven wrong where teamwork overpowered names and new stars born. Most football pundits in The Gambia and around the globe tipped Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, and possibly England to center the ball in the semifinals because these nations have big name players. They were shocked in the group stage and in the round of sixteen. Imagine out of their list, only France and Germany went past the quarterfinal stage. The rest packed their bags when the boys were preparing to go home leaving adults to continue having fun. Spain, Belgium and England got the biggest shock.

Portugal who are the new champions of Europe crawled their way to become champions. Very few pundits booked their name before and during the championship because they struggled in the group and knockout stages. They weren’t convincing at all despite having one of the world’s best, Christiano Ronaldo and the tournament’s best young player in Renato Sanches. Portuguese fans, I am not taking anything off your victory. It is well deserved.

Teams that came into the championship as underdogs ended up shocking the world surpassing the so-called big teams. Teams like Iceland and Wales coming in for the first time punched above their weight just like Cape Verde did in the 2013, AFCON. Northern Ireland, Albania and Slovakia who were also first timers in the competition didn’t perform badly. In fact they all took home a lot of positive. Iceland and Wales couldn’t follow the Leicester City fairytale because they had they efforts and energy cut out in the quarter finals. Poland, Hungary and Republic of Ireland also deserved a great mention because they also were not counted by bookmakers.

Uruguay did it in the world stage, and now Iceland and Wales in Europe and three years ago, Cape Verde did it in Africa and recently, Guinea Bissau also defied the odds to book a ticket to their maiden AFCON championship. The question now is when shall The Gambia book a place to its maiden AFCON championship citing Iceland and Wales’s successes in the Euro.Gambians home and abroad have had their say on the positives from the Euro. Notable among them are journalists, coaches, pundits and people who put their energy and money into football.

What others think

Sang Ndong, head coach of scorpions said, “Iceland and Wales are two countries that got a lot in common with The Gambia. Size and population, cannot stop you to be a big footballing nation. All that needs to be done is proper prioritization of planning and structures. Above all, get players into bigger leagues.”

Mamadi Ceesay, Gambian resident in Norway and the man behind Brufut Uinted’s success in the second division said, “Everything is possible in football. Always choose the best team and players that are available at all times and make sure the players are more interested in playing than being on social media. Look at Iceland, they are discipline and are willing to die for the national jersey. They are united from the coach to the players to the fans.

Modou Jagne, Ex Gambian international and TV pundit said, there are so many positive that the Gambia can take, but from the just ended Euro but to him, “the most important thing is to have an action plan and realistic goals.”

Abdoulie Bah, Gambian sports journalists resident in America said, “Firstly, Giant-killing exploits of Hungary, Iceland and Wales: The Cinderella teams have shown us that mediocre sides can achieve and win the hearts of football fans all over the world. Secondly, Leadership: The Gambia national team lacks the leadership charisma of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is hungry, outspoken, achiever, dependable, tenacious and a great motivator. Gambia national team captains/ key players have some of these attributes but fall short in many others.”

Famara Fofana, news editor at the Gambia Radio and Television Services, “Portugal's clinching of the Euro, coming in to the tournament with the underdog tag yet they proved to the whole world that with a sense of belief allied with a good team spirits, barriers can be conquered, tells a lot. Despite not a financially healthy nation like The Gambia, they proved the doubters wrong.”

Bunja Arsenal Kebbeh, a Gambian football pundit resident in England said, “In the first instance with determination and proper planning, there is no small footballing nation. Iceland with a population of 330,000 people edging out the best teams in Europe says it all. Wales, semifinalist in the first major tournament and Northern Ireland can all motivate any nation with a big heart. If we look around Africa, the positives are written all over the place. Neighbours Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde have showed nothing is impossible by dumping bigger nations for their maiden AFCON. These were all possible because of hard work, proper planning and putting the right people in the right place. Gone are days of favoritism in sports as the wrong people chosen always fail to deliver.”

Alieu Ceesay, Senior Sports Reporter and secretary general, Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia said, “The positive to be drawn from the tournament is that the size of a country does not matter in present day football, looking at a nation like Iceland eliminating favorite and much endowed England in the tournament. It all boils down to determination and the will to win and that was exactly what made the Icelandic outstanding. I hope Gambia footballers and aspiring ones will draw inspiration from the young players who did well for their nations in the Euro. I hope the attention given to the tournament will equally be given go the local tournaments and star players our country produce.”

Buba Jallow Fallaboweh, a Gambian sports blogger resident in Sweden said, “It is evident that size doesn't matter. Take for example of Iceland with a population of 330.000 people. That doesn’t stop them from reaching the quarter finals. They believed in themselves and worked as a team. Gambian Footballers needs to play with confidence and have team spirit even if playing under pressure.”

Lamin B Darboe, resident in Jarra and the man behind the late Lamin Kinteh Memorial Tournament, said. “Well I think we should look up to countries like Iceland who have a population of just 330,000 and they turn out to be the surprise package in the Euro. The Gambia should take an inspiration from that and realize that size doesn't matter when it comes to football. Wales too surprised a lot of people by putting up a remarkable performance throughout. Basically those are some of the positives the Gambia can take from the Euro.”

Kari Metsala, a Finnish FA intermediary who follows Gambian football said, “Minors can expose themselves in today's competitions. Margins getting narrower. Team play accompanied with tactical analysis tailored specifically for each individual team pay off. No team was succeeding only by attacking or defending. Balance is everything. All this can develop Gambia.”

Mustapha Manneh known to many as Kanjura, a resident of Kartong and a football follower said, “Self-confident. The underdog surprised everyone because they believe that they can do it. Iceland played well in the tournament as underdog. Portugal who struggle to qualify to the round of sixteen lifted the trophy. Hunger. The hunger to win shown by the Wales and Icelandic players. Most of those players are not known by many sport lovers but they delivered beyond expectation. Self-confident and hunger I think is lacking in our footballers.”

Sarjo S Jammeh, sport reporter at West Coast Radio said, “Good case studies are right under our noses here. Cape Verde, Mauritania, Guinea Bissau are here for us. I think is high time the Federation seek for their blue prints and learn from them rather than singing rebranding n rebuilding. Don't be surprise if south Sudan of all countries qualify to AFCON before The Gambia. We are still putting our house in order.”

The Icelandic model of developing talent against all odds

Research shows that it has taken Iceland close to 20years to achieve what they garnered today. Gambians have begun using their achievements in the Euros, as a barometer but to use them as a yardstick, The Gambia must put up a long term inclusive programme for players and coaches like the Viking nation did. This is without doubt going to be costly but above all rewarding in the near future.

Icelandic league was merely played in four months, May until September (two less than the Gambians league), leaving seven months of the year for pre-season. This situation leaves much to be desired, but the unforgiving climate of this nearly uninhabitable rock does not provide many alternatives. This was especially the case as clubs practised, and even played, on gravel pitches, something similar to The Gambia but how, then, did Icelandic football develop from these harsh conditions?

Having recognised the problem, the Icelandic FA started a revolutionary process of improving the facilities available for the nation’s footballers. From 2002, six full-size indoor football halls have been built around the country (roughly one pitch per 50,000 inhabitants; 360 pitches would need to be built in The Gambia for a comparable figure), as well as over 20 artificial pitches and more than 130 mini-pitches for schools and communities, allowing football to become a year-round sport and accessible to all. So in a nutshell, the infrastructure must be put in place by the municipal councils through the government.

In most countries these sorts of projects are privately owned and operated, and pitches are therefore rented out to sporting clubs, usually pricing out most youth clubs. What is unique in Iceland, and I believe can be possible in The Gambia, is that these facilities should be available to every man, woman and child in the country. These facilities should be owned by municipalities who in turn allow the clubs to use the facilities, provided that they allow every member of that municipality to make full use of the pitches and keep them maintained when not in use by the clubs.

Icelandic football has been built upon this philosophy of inclusiveness; which is a philosophy that aims at providing quality education and frameworks for as many coaches and players as possible. They created a coach education training programme up to (UEFA A and B license training, as well as a Pro License in cooperation with the English FA) which has been made available to all coaches in the country at the lowest possible cost. This sort of partnership is also possible with the Scottish FA through Adventure Kicks who initiated a link between SFA and the GFF. This will create competition which in turn provides quality. With a pool of fully qualified coaches, spurred on by a hype, will create a certain pressure in the footballing communities to not be left behind.

Today, 70% of coaches in Iceland have a UEFA B license, and around 30% have UEFA A, which is unprecedented in Europe.

Sigurður Ragnar Eyjólfsson, the former Technical Director of the Icelandic FA, was quoted as saying that Iceland was successful in keeping the players for a long time, playing in tournaments such as the U17 and U21 and even at that level they don’t settle for anything else than a win and going to a tournament. “When they step onto the pitch, they find it completely reasonable to beat the bigger sides,” he said. This is also an expensive thing to do but rewarding in the long run.So, is The Gambia ready to go this far?

The VIP section of the Independence Stadium was left puzzled when Keagan Dolly blasted his second goal of the night with a screamer that left scorpions’ goalie, Alagie Nyabally helpless. Dolly’s second which was South Africa’s forth in the night triggered a feud among some highly-placed sports personalities.

Thamsanqa Gabuza and Keagan Dolly each had a brace with Gabuza netting his two in the first period and Dolly rounding up the victory with his two in the second period. But it was his second that sparked some sort of argument between Gambia’s all-time best, Alhagie Njie aka Biri and the administrative secretary of the Gambia Football Federation, Abdul Salam Jammeh.

Someone who was close to the two said the feud arouse when the legend, Biri openly expressed his dissatisfaction over the way the boys were dismantled and outclassed before the fourth goals. This according to the man did not go down well with the seasoned administrator who is said to believe that Biri should not condemn the team loudly and openly at the VIP section like he did.

Salam could not stand the argument so he left his VIP seat and move to the other side of the VIP to complete the match some described as shambolic.

Dubbed the defeat of the decade in Gambian football, Sang Ndong’s men were beaten hands down leaving most of the fans frustrated as usual. While those at the covered and uncovered pavilions turned to support the visiting Bafana Bafana’s after their third goal when all the scorpions are seen doing was to chasing shadows, frustration erupted at the VIP section of Independence Stadium after the fourth goal.

It is very common of Gambian fans to turn against their own team once the team is losing and this day wasn’t an exception. The VIP section of the stadium in most cases also does not help when mostly you hear dignitaries shouting at the peak of their voice not in support of the team but expressing dissatisfaction either of the coaches’ choice of players, changes and or the way the team is playing.

Listening to Sang Ndong after the match, he said, “we're all disappointed because the result and performance were both negative.

“We were outplayed and outclassed today.

“We played against a superior team and we were asked a lot of questions that we couldn't answer.

“Look at the levels, comparing both teams South Africa is a bigger team but yet we could've done better.

We got our aims and objectives since Day One.

“Our objective is to rebuild, rebrand and to try and integrate this national team back with the public.”

Going by the above quotes from the coach, and what happened on Saturday, June 4, 2016 and previously, it appears the GFF and its partners must embark on a massive sensitization on their approach to rebuild and rebrand.

Sang MendyThe watchwords in Gambian Football of late are: rebuild, rebrand and restructure, slogans used to set the tone for the rebirth of the nation's football, but are The Gambians patient enough to see this become a reality?

Is there any reason not to believe that those charged with the running of our national game are not committed to their call on rebuilding, rebranding and restructuring, this includes the team coach Sang Ndong, the representatives of the Gambia Football Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. After listening to the both parties thrust the new catchphrases into the fray, the three words that have now become biggest clichés within the nation’s football cycle.

Upon his appointment as the new national team coach, Sang Ndong said one of the reasons he took the job at such a crucial time was because he is a Gambian, and a coach who wants to help set standards for Gambian coaches to be recognized, respected, be given opportunities and to be supported. He went on to say it is up to the local coaches to show their federation and the government that they are fit to take up the national team. But he also acknowledged that coaching the national team is not the easiest job one can do, and looking into the problems of the team is where the experience, knowledge, support, motivation and everything matters. He added that both he and the GFF are committed to changing the face of the national team to an accepted brand.

“I hope everybody involved in the process will come on-board and work towards achieving our objective, which is to rebuild and rebrand the national team,” said Sang.

However he had also called for everyone to play their roles effectively and also for the support and backing of the Gambian fans, saying : “when Gambians plan or discuss football, there are no problems but once the ball starts rolling, problems are abound”.

This statement is undoubtedly true as proven immediately after Sang unveiled his team to face Mauritania in a double legged AFCON 2017 tie, which kicks-off on Friday, March 25, in Nouakchott and the return leg in Banjul on Tuesday, March 29, when some section of the fans started questioning the exclusion of certain names.

This is despite the fact that Sang had earlier stated that he will give a fair chance to both local and foreign players as long as they are active and playing well, “Everyone will be given the opportunity to represent the country.” he said. Adding that they will be looking for the quality in players during this rebuilding and rebranding process. He also called on people not to be carried away by results, but instead focus on the rebuilding and rebranding process of the national team. This by no means mean Gambians must condone mediocre performance from his team, but to be patient.

However, the former Hawks gaffer has the backing of the Football Federation, it’s president Lamin Kaba Bajo and the executive director of the National Sports Council, Marcel Mendy, who on the day of his unveiling after his appointment as Raoul Savoy’s replacement, assured Sang of their resolve to support him all the way in the rebuilding and rebranding process.

He also noted confidently that, coaching the national team is the easiest job one can do, but looking into the problems of the team, this is where experience, knowledge, support, motivation and everything matters. He added that he and the GFF are committed to changing the face of the national team to an accepted brand.

The GFF president, Lamin Kaba Bajo at the time of unveiling Sang Ndong to Gambians through the media, said among all the candidates who passed through the corridors of the GFF, Sang was the most suitable candidate, adding that the former Hawks coach has been there before as a coach and even as the technical director for the national team, so there could not be a better option, especially when it comes to understanding their rebuilding plans.

“We have come to the conclusion to hand the post to a local qualified coach,” Mr Bajo said and also described Sang as the most qualified candidate, both academically and professionally.“Sang is a Gambian and knows what it takes to lead the team – he knows the Gambian football inside out." Adding: “We will be behind him all the way.” Also pointing out that the their bigger objective is the rebuilding process of formidable national team.

The Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Mr Marcel Mendy, who also represented the Minister of Youth and Sports at the unveiling, said it was difficult to have a replacement for Savoy as there were so many options on whether to appoint a foreign or local coach, but recommendations and consultations were made to appoint a local coach who they believe can help the country achieve its goals.

Saying: “The best thing for the future of Gambian football, as of now is to work on rebuilding the national team, and in doing that we needed someone who can do it and understands what we want to achieve and do.”

He went on to add that Ndong’s qualifications and achievements made him the best and most suited candidate they can afford for now. He however, assured Sang Ndong and the GFF of the government’s support for the development of football, the youths and sports in general.

The former national team shot stopper received the backing of most Gambians, including journalists, football pundits and fans alike and he was believed to be the rightful choice as the only Gambian with an A License coaching certificate. It must be said some section of the media were skeptical about going local to appoint Savoy’s replacement and the fact that Sang’s previous tenure did not yield the desired outcome but in the end his appointments proved a popular one.

It has been unanimously agreed that what The Gambia needs today and tomorrow is a national team that can put up respectable performances within Africa and the world at large in two years' time or beyond. This though is no child’s play and cannot be achieved without proper planning and proper investment. It is an open secret that rebuilding a national team requires real money for training, allowances, salaries and training camps both home and abroad. This is what Mauritania did and today, their team is gaining the recognition they deserved. Mauritania has rebuilt her national team in two years, so why not The Gambia? The question though is, are Gambians patient enough and are ready to invest?

THE REBRANDING PROCESS:

Among some of the things Sang Ndong has to do is to rebrand the national team. This is something he and the stakeholders have agree on. Wherever you hear rebrand, it means the present brand is not attracting the required consumers or customers thus the call for a rebranding. But this is one of the most difficult task one could undertake.

In the cooperate world, they employ specialists with a great knowledge of human psychology to help rebrand. However, in the case of the national team, coach Sang must use his best skills to create a product in his rebranding that will be appreciated by all in the next two years. This though could come quicker than 2019.

This may be achieved by firstly establishing a code of conduct (in other words guidelines) for players, which they can always refer to as their guide. He has to ensure that team selections and decisions are not influenced by third parties.

It is an open secret that in the recent past our national team has been divided by allegations of rift between the new younger players and the senior ones in the team, with the young ones accusing the seniors for been responsible for them being relegated to the bench. In fact some players even openly alleged that the team captain, Abdou Jammeh was the one picking the team for coach Raoul Savoy.

At the game in South Africa, it was captured on journalist’s Facebook and Twitter feeds that Raoul Savoy has changed his starting eleven three times because of the interference of some of the senior players. Well it’s hard to verify this however these sort of information are not helpful, as it disrupts and breed disunity in the team.

Unfortunately, as human beings, it is true that our presence always provokes, gossips and blame games especially when in groups. But it will have to be Sang as the team manager’s responsibility to ensure there is unity and decorum during camp and must ensure egos are carefully managed.

Working with players is like teaching at a nursery or primary school. When you establish rules and made sure no one goes around it, doing whatever they like in class or in school, you are called a wicked teacher or principal. It is without doubt that when you introduce a code of conduct to establish decorum and sanity in the team, some players will vilify you but the coach must never allow players coming in for national duty with the believe they are coming on a holiday.

Lamin Kaba Bajo at the time of unveiling Sang Ndong to Gambians through the media, said among all the candidates who passed through the corridors of the GFF, Sang was the most fit for the job thus they have to settle for him. He said Sang Ndong has been there before as a coach and even as the technical director, “So there cannot be a better option than him,” especially when it comes to understanding their rebuilding process.

”We have come to the conclusion to hand the post to a local qualified coach,” Mr Bajo said while describing Sang Ndong as the most qualified academically and professionally.“Sang is a Gambian and knows what it takes to lead the team – he knows the in and out of Gambian football, and we will be behind him all the way,” the GFF president continued.

He pointed out that their bigger objective is the rebuilding process of formidable national teams.Marcel Mendy, Executive Director of the National Sports Council, who also represented the Minister of Youth and Sports, at that time also said it was difficult to have a replacement for Savoy as there were so many options on whether to appoint a foreign or local coach, but recommendations and consultations were made to appoint a local coach who they believe can help the country achieve its goals.

He said: “The best thing for the future of Gambian football, as of now, is to work on rebuilding the national team, and in doing that we needed someone who can do it and understands what we want to achieve and do.”

Mendy stated that Ndong’s qualifications and achievements made him the best and most suited candidate they can afford for now. He however, assured Sang Ndong and the GFF of the government’s support, and for the development of football and the youths and sports in general.

Going by the words of the Lamin Kaba Bajo and Marcel Mendy, Sang Ndong was assured that he will be supported throughout his rebuilding process, so Gambians need not worry.

RUMOURS: It is circulating around town that the sponsorship deal that bonded the GFF and the First Eco Partners is no more.

​This seems true because recent media releases about the league have not been bearing the name of First Eco Partners thus fueling the rumour around. What must have been the reason for the abrupt end of the contract remains a misery.

A source close to the GFF said the deal has seized existing even before the beginning of the league. Another source who wish to remain anonymous said the deal seems to be suffering from malaria that is why they probably have not come out public about it.

For reasons best known to the two parties, they have both decided to keep it under the carpet. However, what is certain is that clubs should know if the said deal is no more and if the cash prizes will still remain the same even without a sponsor.First Eco Partners entered into a three year partnership with the GFF to sponsor the division one league and have pledged D3, 000,000 to be spread equally every year.

The deal signed March 11, 2015 was described by the authorities of the GFF as a deal that will promote and develop Gambian football and indeed it increased the competition in the 2014/15 league season where the winner and the two runners up went home with close to D550, 000 as cash prize, money given from the partnership.

Gamtel/Gamcel as league winners went home with D300, 000, Real de Banjul as first runners up went home with D150, 000 while Gambia Ports Authority went home D100, 000 richer at the end of the league.

With this on the table, the twelve teams in the league entered into the 2015/16 league season with the ambition of finishing in the top three to receive a token at the end of the season.

When the deal was signed, the media was informed that D200, 000 was going into administration, D12, 000 into the grounds hosting the league matches, D20, 000 to each team for their movements of the teams to match venues, a set of jersey with the logo of the sponsor of the league and the provision of 100 match balls to be used during the season.​The division one league resumes over the weekend with GPA topping the table with 23ponits, five points better off Brikama United on 18points while the Gamtel/Gamcel FC sit third with 17points.

Two weeks it was rumoured that, Star FM's sports reporter, Ebrima Campo Jatta was co-opted to serve in the women football committee, a committee task to help coordinate women football activities in The Gambia.

Campo as he is fondly called is a ardent football follower. His inclusion in the women football committee would go a long way in selling and promoting contribution to women football in The Gambia knowing that this aspect of football that is under-reported.

He can use his platform at Star FM to help promote women football but when contacted to react to the rumoured appointment weeks ago, he said, "No it is not true. It is just a rumour." But it is now confirmed that women football has the backing of Campo

What is evident is that women football needs people like him to help promote and coordinate their activities.

Shocked, thrilled and shamed. This was what struck the African delegates at the FIFA extra ordinary congress on Friday, February 26, 2016 when Gianni Infantino beat Sheikh Salman to win the FIFA presidency.

Prior to the congress, CAF openly state that they have agreed to back Sheikh Salman, something that shocked and created debate around the whole world.

But with their candidate losing the election, isn't it proper to come public to bury their heads in their shoulders and congratulate the former EUFA secretary for beating their candidate.

Well, this is what the CAF president has done. He was forced to painfully accept defeat before, during and after the congress to issue an open letter on behalf of Africa.

In his letter dated Saturday, 27 February 2016, CAF President Issa Hayatou on behalf of the CAF Executive Committee and the African football family has congratulated Gianni Infantino on his election as FIFA President last Friday.“We are confident that you will restore FIFA’s image backed by your career, skills, passion for football, understanding of the issues related to the future of football, and your desire to develop our sport around the four corners of the world.“Be assured of the continued support of CAF, African members of the new FIFA Council, as well as our commitment to strengthening the excellent relationship between CAF and FIFA,” said the CAF President, who acted as interim president of FIFA in the months preceding the February 26 elections.

Gianni Infantino has always maintained in his campaign that he will win the votes and indeed he shocked the world by scoping 115 votes from the available 207 votes to win the right to become the president of FIFA.

The Uefa secretary general failed to get enough in the first round to seal outright victory, claiming 88 of the 207 votes available at an extraordinary congress in Zurich leaving Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa who has the backing of CAF with won 85.

In the second round though Gianni beat his opponent scoring 115 votes as opposed to the 88votes scooped by Sheikh Salman.Prince Ali wins 4votes while Jerome Champagne scored no vote. In his acceptance speech, Gianni promised to work with all football associations to rebrand football.

About UsNna Gambia News is website created by Sang Mendy. The website is geared towards reporting happenings and events in the field of Agriculture, Youth and Sports in The Gambia. The website will feature interviews, reports and stories of human interest on general matters. From time to time, Na Gambia News will also profile individuals in the youth and sports sector who are worthy to be emulated. So if you know it has happen, is happening or is about to happen. You can contact the web host.

Web HostSang Mendy, is an Assistant Journalism Trainer at The Gambia Press Union / GAMES Journalism Training School. He has a Diploma in Journalism, Advance Diploma in Mass Communication, Higher Teachers Certificate and has worked for Today Newspaper as the Head Of Sports, The Standard Newspaper as the head of sports and currently working with City Limits Radio as the producer and head of sports. He also produce and present a Youth program geared towards inspiring young people to get up and work hard. The show is on West Coast Radio. He also possessed a FIFA Intermediate Coaching Certificate. My heart beat in Journalism is Youth, Sports and Agriculture.